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Center for Research and Documentation
on World Language Problems
in cooperation with
Universal Esperanto Association
<ueainter.nl.net>
Tel Aviv, Israel, 31 July 2000, from 9,30 a. m.
Location: Tel Aviv University
Webb Building (School of Languages), room103
INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOP:
FORGING A LIVING TONGUE:
Testing linguistic theory in Modern Hebrew and Esperanto
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Language planning traditionally poses a challenge for a view of language
relying on "naturalness", since it involves, by definition, conscious human
(political) intervention. Yet this challenge is hardly ever taken up in a
serious way. The results of language planning activities are either ignored
in the literature, or treated without much discussion as if they have
indeed been natural all along.
In this international workshop we want to take up the challenge and discuss
what language planning means for linguists of all theoretical schools and
convictions. Can human beings invent working languages that are
'unnatural'? Is there a difference between learning a highly planned
language and learning a more 'natural' language? What are the key factors
in the relative success of language planning activities? Can a language
ever be fully 'planned' or fully 'natural'?
The focus of the workshop will be on two very different types of language,
in which active language planning has played an important role in the past:
Modern Hebrew and Esperanto.
The histories and the present sociological situation of these two languages
are very different, of course, but there seem to be similarities as well
(such as the ardour with which pioneers in the beginning of the 20th
century have tried to introduce the 'new' language in their everyday life;
the balance in the grammar of the languages between strict grammatical
rules and relative anarchy). Other languages [such as, for instance,
Israeli Sign Language] may be taken into consideration as well.
We expect to have approximately 7-8 speakers. The working languages of the
workshop will be English and Esperanto. The organizers will aim to publish
the proceedings in some form.
You are personally invited to attend the workshop.
In the afternoon a "guided" visit to the World Esperanto Congress, at the
Dan Panorama Hotel in Tel Aviv, will be possible for interested linguistics.
For further information on Esperanto, please, refer to:
http://www.esperantic.org/ced/studies.htm
You can also receive an overview of Esperanto Studies and Interlinguistics,
and a bibliography on the subject and a brief description of the structure
and organisation of the World Congress.
For further information please contact:
Center for Research and Documentation
on World Language Problems
Nieuwe Binnenweg, 176
NL-3015 BJ Rotterdam
The Netherlands
<ueainter.nl.net>
or in Israel
Eldad Salzman
<eldadnetvision.net.il>
ELI - Esperanto-Ligo en Israelo
P. O. Box 53160
Tel-Aviv 61531
Israel
Tel: +972 3-5242491
Fax: +972 3-523 0470